Global

Many factors explain the demise of earlier civilizations, but not one collapsed as a result of deliberate decisions by a top political leader who wanders about destroying the pillars of his country’s greatness. Donald J, Trump, however, does so—endangering not only the United States but also U,S. allies and others previously inspired by America’s example.        

The United States has long suffered from many of the challenges that brought down earlier political systems—from Uruk in Mesopotamia to Mayan Chichén Itza to the USSR. These problems included myopic leadership, rich-poor enmity, widespread corruption; racial and religious conflict, environmental abuse, overextension and unnecessary warring—all made worse by inflation and deficit spending.

BANGKOK, Thailand -- Thailand's politically powerful Constitutional Court suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on July 1 after accepting a case of alleged "ethical misconduct" against her because she criticized a Royal Thai Army commander in her leaked phone call with Cambodia's de facto leader Hun Sen during their deadly border feud.

Ms. Paetongtarn's suspension came after the two countries briefly clashed on May 28 and Thai troops shot dead a Cambodian soldier in the Emerald Triangle where eastern Thailand, northern Cambodia, and southern Laos meet.

Ms. Paetongtarn apologized to the public and insisted she had "no ill intentions" when she clumsily tried to "negotiate" with Cambodia's battle-hardened Senate President Hun Sen .

The Constitutional Court gave her 15 days to defend herself.

Meanwhile, to run this increasingly troubled Southeast Asian nation, she appointed her Deputy Prime Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit to become caretaker prime minister while the court decide during the next several weeks.

This article will focus on the reason the American people cannot have nice things. The obvious reason is that military is spending more than America can afford. The idea that the budget deficit can be decreased while military spending increases is simply ludicrous.

The American people are desperate for financial relief. During the last election cycle, they were told that one candidate would relieve their struggles by bringing down the cost of eggs. The other candidate pretended that the economy was in good hands, and the population should ignore the cost to themselves of American support of genocide in Israel and the cost of the proxy war against Russia (via Ukraine). The candidate known for lying even promised to balance the Federal budget.

In 1776, Thomas Paine set a revolutionary tone rejecting the King: "But where, say some, is the King of America? … as far as we approve of monarchy… in America the law is king."

The American Revolution replaced the authority of a sovereign with the authority of a written Constitution and a people who govern themselves. Paine's vision was the bedrock of the American Revolution, a declaration that no person — not a king, not a president, not a general — would stand above the law.

Today, nearly 250 years later, that vision is dimming, not because the words have faded, but because the institutions meant to uphold them have withered. And at the heart of this erosion is a truth too many fear to speak: we are witnessing the collapse of the implicit moral principles of the Declaration, the American promise of liberty under law.

The conduct of America’s current chief executive recalls the cadence of the usurpations of George III, iterated in the July 4, 1776 Declaration of Independence. We have arrived at a George III moment.

July 4, 2025, a People’s Declaration

BANGKOK, Thailand -- In a spectacular and dangerous political breakup between Asia's two most powerful de facto leaders, Cambodia's Hun Sen publicly ended his "betrayed" friendship with Thailand's Thaksin Shinawatra and, in revenge over their deadly border dispute, said Mr. Thaksin allegedly duped Bangkok's judicial authorities by wearing a neck brace and arm sling as fake props to avoid prison.

Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen livestreamed his bombshell allegations which shocked Thais and sharply increased the political vulnerability of Bangkok's teetering coalition government headed by Mr. Thaksin and his daughter, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

"Now that I’ve been betrayed, I feel I must reveal what the Thaksin family did to betray their nation," Mr. Hun Sen said on June 27 at a local government meeting.

Directing his anger and allegations at Mr. Thaksin, Mr. Hun Sen warned: “If you act arrogantly, I will expose everything you told me.

"Discipline your children. You have a child as prime minister, and I have a child as prime minister. But don’t mistake me for someone you can cross.

Meet Danielle Khalaf, 14, a Michigan student who refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance last January in protest of US support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Danielle said she was humiliated by her teacher after she declined to stand for and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, according to Washington Post.

She tried to explain to her teacher in private three times, as to why she refused to recite the Pledge. However, her teacher ignored her and told her, “Since you live in this country and enjoy its freedom, if you don’t like it, you should go back to your country.” The teacher added, "By doing so, you are disrespecting the flag and our military."

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the Arab American Civil Rights League said Danielle’s First Amendment rights were violated. Both groups filed a lawsuit on behalf of Danielle claiming she “suffered extensive emotional and social injuries,” including nightmares, stress, and strained friendships and are seeking a financial award in the suit.